Productivity

10 Ways to Save Time in the Morning

Ideally, every superhero should have a morning routine to make the most of each day. But let’s face it – most of us are rushing to get out the door on time. Add a little sanity to your life by saving time each morning with the following tips.

1. Buy multi-tasking products.

From showering to wearing makeup, getting ready in the morning can take up a lot of time. So invest in products that do double-duty, whether it’s a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, a stick you can use as blush, lipstick and eyeshadow, or a spray that moisturizes and protects you from the sun.

2. Prep meals in advance.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it fuels you up and prevents you from overeating later on. Unfortunately, far too many of us skip it because we just don’t have time – which is why you should prep your meals in advance. Some grab-and-go breakfast ideas include frozen breakfast burritos or a container with yogurt and granola. You could also make up lunches in advance like this or even leave a few breakfast items (like some pieces of fruit) on your desk at work. And if you’re a coffee addict, invest in a programmable coffeemaker. The addictive smell of caffeine will help rouse you from your slumber.

3. Stop doing it in the morning.

Meals aren’t the only thing you can prep in advance! Streamline your morning routine by doing whatever you can the night before – or by switching it to your commute. For example, you could shower the night before and read news headlines on the train. And if you need to fill up your car or add money to your bus pass, do it on the way home from work instead of the way there.

4. Get the right haircut.

You could spend 20 minutes doing your hair each morning – or you could spend 5. That difference often lies in having a haircut that works for your hair and your lifestyle. So invest the money and talk to your hairstylist to get a cut that will let you shave precious minutes off your morning routine. You might ask for styling tips, too.

5. Plan your outfit.

Like eating breakfast, getting dressed is something you must do every day – but you can still save time on it in the morning! Try checking the weather forecast at the beginning of the week and plan your outfits accordingly, or just do it every night. Keeping a clothes diary with an app like Stylebook will also help you remember previous outfits you might want to repeat. But some people find picking out the next days’ clothes too stressful an activity before bedtime. So only do this if it works for you.

6. Get organized.

Nothing is more stressful than running around looking for something minutes before you head out the door. Avoid this by getting organized and designating a place for everything. This goes for clothes, jewelry and bathroom essentials as well as things like keys, umbrellas and seasonal wear like winter hats or sunglasses. Make sure the items you use every day are easily accessible. Why not leave a basket near your door where you can dump everything you need for the next day? If you bring a lot of files to work, it might also help to have a space dedicated to your office papers.

7. Create a playlist.

Do you spend too much time in the shower each morning? Keep yourself on track by creating an energetic playlist that’s exactly as long as your morning routine should be. Listen to it every morning and you’ll be able to tell if you’re running late just by the song that’s playing. You could also try a radio show or a podcast, which can help keep your brain alert instead of distracting you. Can’t deal with music in the morning? Get a shower timer or add a clock to your bathroom so you know the time without having to constantly run for your phone.

8. Go to bed on time.

The groggier you are, the less alert you’ll be every morning, which will slow down your morning routine. Avoid this by going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning. Sticking to a sleep schedule will give you better-quality sleep so you can wake up feeling refreshed instead of wanting to hit snooze every 5 minutes.

9. Make a checklist.

Are you constantly forgetting something every morning? You could put your keys on whatever you don’t want to forget – but that doesn’t work so well if you have more than one essential item or if your door locks automatically. Instead, create a checklist on your phone of everything you need – you can create a recurring checklist or simply copy-paste the same one, adding new items as they come up. Check that you have everything before you head out the door .

10. Keep your work bag neat.

If you have a large work bag or briefcase, it can be easy to lose stuff in it. That’s a problem when you want to make sure you brought your work ID with you. So it’s crucial to keep your work bag just as organized as the rest of your life. Try putting items in small pouches or cases so you know where everything is. And go through your bag or case once a week to dump out everything you don’t need – from receipts to papers.

Ideally, every superhero should have a morning routine to make the most of each day. But let’s face it – most of us are rushing to get out the door on time. Add a little sanity to your life by saving time each morning with the following tips.

1. Buy multi-tasking products.

From showering to wearing makeup, getting ready in the morning can take up a lot of time. So invest in products that do double-duty, whether it’s a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, a stick you can use as blush, lipstick and eyeshadow, or a spray that moisturizes and protects you from the sun.

2. Prep meals in advance.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it fuels you up and prevents you from overeating later on. Unfortunately, far too many of us skip it because we just don’t have time – which is why you should prep your meals in advance. Some grab-and-go breakfast ideas include frozen breakfast burritos or a container with yogurt and granola. You could also make up lunches in advance like this or even leave a few breakfast items (like some pieces of fruit) on your desk at work. And if you’re a coffee addict, invest in a programmable coffeemaker. The addictive smell of caffeine will help rouse you from your slumber.

3. Stop doing it in the morning.

Meals aren’t the only thing you can prep in advance! Streamline your morning routine by doing whatever you can the night before – or by switching it to your commute. For example, you could shower the night before and read news headlines on the train. And if you need to fill up your car or add money to your bus pass, do it on the way home from work instead of the way there.

4. Get the right haircut.

You could spend 20 minutes doing your hair each morning – or you could spend 5. That difference often lies in having a haircut that works for your hair and your lifestyle. So invest the money and talk to your hairstylist to get a cut that will let you shave precious minutes off your morning routine. You might ask for styling tips, too.

5. Plan your outfit.

Like eating breakfast, getting dressed is something you must do every day – but you can still save time on it in the morning! Try checking the weather forecast at the beginning of the week and plan your outfits accordingly, or just do it every night. Keeping a clothes diary with an app like Stylebook will also help you remember previous outfits you might want to repeat. But some people find picking out the next days’ clothes too stressful an activity before bedtime. So only do this if it works for you.

6. Get organized.

Nothing is more stressful than running around looking for something minutes before you head out the door. Avoid this by getting organized and designating a place for everything. This goes for clothes, jewelry and bathroom essentials as well as things like keys, umbrellas and seasonal wear like winter hats or sunglasses. Make sure the items you use every day are easily accessible. Why not leave a basket near your door where you can dump everything you need for the next day? If you bring a lot of files to work, it might also help to have a space dedicated to your office papers.

7. Create a playlist.

Do you spend too much time in the shower each morning? Keep yourself on track by creating an energetic playlist that’s exactly as long as your morning routine should be. Listen to it every morning and you’ll be able to tell if you’re running late just by the song that’s playing. You could also try a radio show or a podcast, which can help keep your brain alert instead of distracting you. Can’t deal with music in the morning? Get a shower timer or add a clock to your bathroom so you know the time without having to constantly run for your phone.

8. Go to bed on time.

The groggier you are, the less alert you’ll be every morning, which will slow down your morning routine. Avoid this by going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning. Sticking to a sleep schedule will give you better-quality sleep so you can wake up feeling refreshed instead of wanting to hit snooze every 5 minutes.

9. Make a checklist.

Are you constantly forgetting something every morning? You could put your keys on whatever you don’t want to forget – but that doesn’t work so well if you have more than one essential item or if your door locks automatically. Instead, create a checklist on your phone of everything you need – you can create a recurring checklist or simply copy-paste the same one, adding new items as they come up. Check that you have everything before you head out the door .

10. Keep your work bag neat.

If you have a large work bag or briefcase, it can be easy to lose stuff in it. That’s a problem when you want to make sure you brought your work ID with you. So it’s crucial to keep your work bag just as organized as the rest of your life. Try putting items in small pouches or cases so you know where everything is. And go through your bag or case once a week to dump out everything you don’t need – from receipts to papers.